Things to Do During Your Stay on Cape Cod

High Pointe has just been added to my list of why Cape Cod is my favorite place on earth. New York Guest

Cape Cod offers a wealth of activities and attractions, both indoors and out, to make your vacation a truly memorable experience. We would be delighted to help you plan the perfect weekend getaway or a more extensive New England holiday itinerary prior to your arrival, or you may wish to click on the following links for more detailed information on the many activities, attractions, and day trips enjoyed by our bed and breakfast guests:

Beaches: A listing of many of Cape Cod’s finest (and not necessarily most popular) beaches . . .

Centrally located in the heart of Cape Cod, within easy driving distance of a number of popular New England vacation destinations, the High Pointe Inn is ideally situated for those planning an extended New England holiday. Many guests use the Inn as their headquarters for an extended visit, taking day trips to explore beyond the boundaries of Cape Cod to sample the diversity of the region that makes a New England holiday so special. For detailed day-by-day itinerary suggestions, see the “Extended Stay” ideas further down this page.

Boston (one hour by car) No trip to Boston is complete without a walk along the two-and-a-half-mile Freedom Trail. Truly one of the best ways to get acquainted with Boston and to explore its wealth of historic landmarks, the 2.5-mile trail begins at Boston Common and ends in Charlestown at the Bunker Hill monument. The entire trail is marked with a painted or bricked red line that is easy to follow. Signs along the Trail identify each of the 16 stops.

Quincy Market, also called Faneuil Hall Marketplace, is a great place to stop for a refreshment break during your walk of the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail in Boston. The indoor-outdoor market is home to dozens of restaurants and food vendors. Want to see sea lions smile and penguins play? Then head to the New England Aquarium in Boston, one of the city’s most popular attractions. At the center of the Aquarium is the four-story, 200,000 gallon Giant Ocean Tank, a Coral Reef environment filled with everything from sea turtles, and tropical fishes to sharks, stingrays, and moray eels.

A unique and fun way to tour Boston is on a Boston Duck Tour . The fun begins as soon as you board your “DUCK”, an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle. Upon boarding, you will be greeted by one of their legendary tour ConDUCKtors, who’ll narrate your tour, including little known facts and interesting tidbits along the way. Starting on land, you’ll cruise by the domed State House, Bunker Hill Monument, Boston Common, Copley Square, Government Center, fashionable Newbury Street, Quincy Market, Prudential Tower, or the “Pru” as it is known by the locals. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, it’s time for “Splashdown” when your ConDUCKtor splashes your DUCK right into the Charles River for a breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines.

Plimoth Plantation (45 minutes by car)Plimoth Plantation is a living history museum located just 45 minutes from the inn in the picturesque seaside community of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

This quaint tourist destination offers a memorable New England experience through personal encounters with historic figures of a Colonial English community in the 1600s. The exhibits, programs, live interpreters, and historic settings encourage a new level of understanding about the past and our connection to our settlers.

Newport, Rhode Island (90 minutes by car)The Mansions of Newport . . The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff, and numerous others were built by the men and women who built America. Now protected under the auspices of the Preservation Society of Newport County the 11 historic properties and landscapes – seven of which are National Historic Landmarks – trace America’s architectural and social development from the Colonial era through the Gilded Age.

In Newport visitors will find a world of exceptional elegance and inspiration in architecture, art, interior design and landscapes. Visitors can explore 250 years of American history sprawled across 80 acres of gardens and parks.

Provincetown (one hour by car)

Though Commercial Street can be overrun with tourists in the summer, the downtown area is alive with local color, fun and funky shops and galleries, and an array of restaurants from casual to fine dining. Beyond the town limits you’ll find Race Point and the Provincelands, the Old Harbor Life Saving Station, and Herring Cove Beach. To really experience the spectacular dunes, try an excursion deep into the sand with Art’s Dune Tours.

An easy daytrip from Cape Cod, Nantucket is an offshore island laying 30 miles out to sea. Visitors enjoy the endless beaches, miles of designated bike paths, the Nantucket Whaling Museum, and oodles of shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars. Take a 90-minute minibus tour of the island for a nice overview of the landscape or rent a bike from Young’s Bicycle Shop and take a ride on the Polpis Road out to Siasconset and Sankaty Head Lighthouse.

Martha’s Vineyard (one hour via fast ferry, or 20 minutes via air.) Though much closer to Cape Cod than Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard is much larger and therefore much more rural in nature and is home to both year-round and seasonal residents. Edgartown is the hub of activity in the summer with lovely restaurants and shops to explore and a bustling harbor. Oak Bluffs, where most of the ferries disembark, is the home of the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest continuously operating carousel in the country. Here you’ll also find the Methodist Camp Meeting Association, a cluster of vividly painted gingerbread houses that have been painstakingly restored. If time allows, take a trip out to Aquinnah and the bluffs of Gay Head, or the sleepy little fishing village of Menemsha.

Drive the length of scenic Route 6A, the Old King’s Highway, designated one of the most scenic byways in America. Browse antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, and one-of-a-kind gift shops along the way. Have lunch at the Brewster Fish House. Visit the Natural History Museum and walk the nature trails across the marsh to the Brewster Flats at Paines Creek. Catch the sunset along the boardwalk at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouthport. Stop for a soft serve at Captain Frosty’s.

Day Two: The National Seashore

Head east to the National Seashore. Take a side trip to Fort Hill for a view of Nauset Beach and the Penniman House and a walk along the nature trails. Continue on to the Salt Pond Visitors Center at the start of the National Seashore in Eastham. See the Coast Guard Station at Coast Guard Beach, the Nauset Beach Lighthouse, and the Marconi Wireless Station site. Drive down Lecount Hollow Road to Ocean View Drive, past Cahoon Hollow to Newcomb Hollow. Stop at Arnold’s on Route 6 for onion rings and fried clams. Catch a movie at the Wellfleet Drive-In.

Day Three: Provincetown

Hop on Route 6, the mid-Cape Highway, and make a bee-line for Provincetown. Along the way you can detour for a tour of Truro Vineyards and the Atlantic Spice Company. Climb the Pilgrim Monument for a spectacular view. Take a one-of-a-kind tour of the dunes with Art’s Dune Tours. Alternatively take a whale watching excursion to Stellwagen Bank. Have lunch at the Lobster Pot, then stroll the shops and galleries along Commercial Street. Drive to the Province Lands Visitors Center and watch the sunset over Race Point.

Day Four: Cape Cod Rail Trail

Grab your bike and ride the 26-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail. Pack a lunch for a picnic along the trail. Take a detour into Nickerson State Park and have a swim in the one of the lovely ponds. Return via 6A through Dennis on 6A and stop at the Sesuit Harbor Cafe for a lobster roll or perhaps a sunset cruise in the harbor.

Day Five: Sandwich

Spend the day in Sandwich, the oldest town on Cape Cod. Tour the Sandwich Glass Museum and visit the Dexter Grist Mill. Have tea at the Dunbar Tea House. Walk the boardwalk out to Cape Cod Bay or stroll along the 6-mile trail that lines the Cape Cod Canal. Grab a bite to eat at Seafood Sam’s or order a steamed lobster from Joe’s Seafood Market and dine at a picnic table along the canal. Then spend the afternoon at the Heritage Museum and Gardens. Stroll acres of perennial gardens, visit the historic Shaker round barn with its spectacular classic car collection, and the exhibits of military miniatures, antique toys and Native American artifacts in the American History Museum. Take a ride on the working carousel and stay for an evening concert at the amphitheater.

Day Six: Boston

Take a day trip to Boston (one hour by car) to walk the Freedom Trail, or take a Duck Mobile or Beantown Trolley tour of the city. Visit the New England Aquarium, Old Ironsides, Bunker Hill Monument, Quincy Market, and Faneuil Hall. Dine on fresh seafood at Legal Seafood or the Union Oyster House.

Day Seven: Chatham

Travel to Chatham, the “elbow” of Cape Cod to see the Chatham Lighthouse. Browse the shops along Main Street. Drive out to the Chatham Fish Pier to see the day boats unload their catch. Take Shore Road past Chatham Bars Inn to Morris Island and the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. Take a seal cruise aboard the Rip Ryder or have them drop you off for an afternoon at the beach on South Monomoy. Dine at The Impudent Oyster.

Day Eight: Newport

Venture to Newport, R.I. (90 minutes by car) and tour the mansions that were the summer homes of the Vanderbilts and Astors. Take a leisurely drive along the 10-mile Ocean Drive, walk the Cliff Walk in front of The Breakers, Marble House and Chateau Sur Mer. End your day with a bowl of steaming clam chowder at the Black Pearl on the water.

Day Nine: Cape Cod at Play

Spend the day at any one of Cape Cod’s beautiful beaches soaking up the sun, reading the latest novel, walking the coastline in search of treasures from the sea, or frolicking in the waves. Alternately, take a kayak trip in Pleasant Bay or Nauset Marsh with Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures or golf at any of our championship golf courses. After dinner, catch a play at the Cape Cod Playhouse, and enjoy wonderful live theater.

Day Ten: Nantucket

Take the high speed ferry (one hour) to Nantucket for the day. Visit the Whaling Museum. Rent a moped or bicycle and ride the Polpis Road out to Slasconset and Sankaty Head Lighthouse to see the rose-covered fishing cottages. Walk the cobblestone streets of Nantucket Town, climb to the top of the First Congregational Church bell tower on Center St. for a beautiful view of the harbor. Have lunch at the Brotherhood of Thieves or Le Languedoc. Be sure to throw a penny off the stern of the ferry as you pass Brant Point Lighthouse to ensure your return trip to the island one day.

Day Eleven: Falmouth and Woods Hole

Drive to Falmouth and Woods Hole via Route 28A, which will take you through the lovely community of West Falmouth with its many antique shops. Stop for lunch at Dana’s Kitchen for unusual sandwiches, homemade soups and salads. Turn right on Palmer Ave in downtown Falmouth for shopping. Follow Sippewissett Road, a windy 8-mile route that takes you past beautiful homes with great views of the water into Woods Hole, home to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Alternately you can ride your bike along the Shining Sea Bike Trail. On the return trip, have dinner at the Chapoquoit Grill, then catch the sunset from Chapoquoit Beach near the restaurant.

Day Twelve: Plimoth Plantation

Spend the day at Plimoth Plantation in nearby Plymouth, MA (45 minutes by car). Plimoth was the first permanent European settlement in the “New World”. Today it is a living history museum dedicated to recreating the 17th century lifestyle. Tour the Mayflower II, a recreation of the original, and learn about the perils of the 1620 journey. Stop to see Plymouth Rock, located on the waterfront in downtown Plymouth, close to where Mayflower II is anchored.

Day Thirteen: Martha’s Vineyard

Take the Island Queen ferry (35 minutes) from Falmouth Harbor to Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’s Vineyard for the day. Rent a bike or moped and ride into Edgartown via the designated bike path. Take the 5-minute ferry trip to Chappaquiddick and take the lighthouse tour or visit Mytoi Japanese Garden. Return to Edgartown for lunch at Alchemy. Then ride down to Katama Beach for fine surfing. Alternatively, drive out to see the fishing village of Menemsha, Aquinnah, and the cliffs at Gay Head. Return to Oak Bluffs and ride the Flying Horses carousel before returning to the mainland via ferry.

Day Fourteen: Rail and Sail

Ride the rails on the Cape Cod Scenic Train. Rambling through the countryside, alongside cranberry bogs and salt marsh, this 2-hour journey is narrated by a local expert as you make your way roundtrip between Hyannis and the Cape Cod Canal. Stop for lunch at Baxter’s Boat House on the harbor then set sail for a leisurely one-hour harbor cruise aboard the Prudence, which will take you around Hyannis Harbor and into Lewis Bay for a glimpse of the Kennedy Compound. You can visit the shops along the harbor, then head down Main Street to the JFK Museum. End you day with a concert at the Cape Cod Melody Tent (in season) or stop for a nightcap at any of the local waterholes.